R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord,
to go and bear fruit that will remain.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
“Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,
another they killed, and a third they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,
but they treated them in the same way.
Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking,
‘They will respect my son.’
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
‘This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?”
They answered him,
“He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times.”
Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you,
the kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”

One way to understand the parable in today’s Gospel is to consider the impact of the political corruption that existed in the Holy Land at the time of our Lord. Remember that the landlords at the time of Jesus, who owned the vineyards around Jerusalem, were rich, absentee, and interested in collecting their rent. They wanted their cut, and it was outrageous.

Working people of the time, too, were discontented and rebellious. They were angry, and as we heard, even assaulting the landlords’ representatives. The population hated foreign domination by a rich minority who supported the Roman Empire, to which they were subjected. Everyone it seemed lived to destroy – to be unfruitful, living only for themselves.

The experience of rejection heaped upon this constant destruction gives us the statement, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” And ultimately, Jesus becomes the cornerstone of the future which the builders rejected. And only because of Him, Jesus Christ the Cornerstone, does the world once again break free of mutual destruction and become fruitful. This is the very meaning of salvation.

Jesus Christ continues the fruitfulness and blessing of His salvation in the vineyard of the Church. He gives the Church everything necessary for fruit bearing. Therefore we must embrace:

1. A.The Bible to know the will of God.
2.   The priesthood to lead the people in God’s ways.
3.   The Sacrament of Reconciliation for the remittance of sin.
4. D.The Holy Eucharist, our spiritual food and drink.
5.   The Sacrament of Confirmation for a dynamic life of faith.
6.   The Sacrament of Matrimony for the sharing of love in families, the fundamental unit of the Church.
7. G.The Sacrament of Anointing to restore and strengthen spiritual life and bring mental, emotional, and physical healing as well, if that is what God wills.
8. H.And role models in the thousands of saints, like Saint Anthony.

The sharing of these blessings that come from these seven Sacraments, by sacrificing for the members of our family, by humbly serving others, we become not wild grapes as Isaiah referred to but rather bearers of good fruit. We are called by Jesus Christ to make use of these gifts and produce fruits for God.

In my own, very small garden, in the back of the priest’s house, I planted one tomato plant: an Ohio plant called “celebrity.” This one plant has produced over two-hundred tomatoes! It must have been the soil, the sun, the water, the TLC – all fitting together to become a very fruitful vine.

Do not, in your life, live to destroy. But defend life together. Defend, even, the unborn, who are with us too. Participate frequently in the sacrament of Reconciliation. Come to the sacrament, even as a family. Be part of that stone, Jesus Christ, that the destructive builders reject, and become the Cornerstone that lives, now and forever in the Kingdom to come. And you bear much fruit with Christ. Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint Anthony, Pray for Us!

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Pastor & Rector, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica – Saint Anthony Parish

Let me now sing of my friend,
my friend’s song concerning his vineyard.
My friend had a vineyard
on a fertile hillside;
he spaded it, cleared it of stones,
and planted the choicest vines;
within it he built a watchtower,
and hewed out a wine press.
Then he looked for the crop of grapes,
but what it yielded was wild grapes.

Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard:
What more was there to do for my vineyard
that I had not done?
Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes,
did it bring forth wild grapes?
Now, I will let you know
what I mean to do with my vineyard:
take away its hedge, give it to grazing,
break through its wall, let it be trampled!
Yes, I will make it a ruin:
it shall not be pruned or hoed,
but overgrown with thorns and briers;
I will command the clouds
not to send rain upon it.
The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel,
and the people of Judah are his cherished plant;
he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed!
for justice, but hark, the outcry!

R. (Is 5:7a) The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
A vine from Egypt you transplanted;
you drove away the nations and planted it.
It put forth its foliage to the Sea,
its shoots as far as the River.
R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
Why have you broken down its walls,
so that every passer-by plucks its fruit,
The boar from the forest lays it waste,
and the beasts of the field feed upon it?
R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted,
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
O LORD, God of hosts, restore us;
if your face shine upon us, then we shall be saved.
R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

Brothers and sisters:
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.